Karikatuur van Endymion 1842

Honoré Daumier created this caricature of Endymion using lithography, a printmaking technique exploiting the repellant properties of oil and water. The stark contrast between light and shadow, achieved through the precise application of greasy crayon onto the lithographic stone, gives the image its dramatic impact. This method, while indirect, allowed for a remarkable tonal range, ideal for capturing the subtleties of Daumier's social commentary. Lithography was a relatively new technology in the 19th century, enabling mass production of images for newspapers and journals. Daumier used this to great effect, creating caricatures that skewered the pretensions of the bourgeoisie. The very act of reproducing this image en masse speaks to the changing landscape of art consumption and the rise of popular culture. In Daumier's hands, the tools of mass production became instruments of social critique, blurring the lines between art, craft, and political commentary.